The Best Food Trucks in Jacksonville

You might not think that a sprawling city like Jacksonville would be a hotbed for food trucks, but it actually is. Trucks here cater to every cuisine, from African and Haitian to pizza and barbecue. If you haven't tried a food truck around your neighborhood or visited The Court Urban Food Park downtown, it's time you became indoctrinated.

The rise of the food truck

Food trucks fill a need in Jacksonville, just like they do in other parts of the nation. Sometimes it's a case of bringing new cuisines to a particular neighborhood, perhaps one that might have a dearth of brick-and-mortar restaurants. Or, food trucks might cater to the needs of office parks and businesses that want access to quality food at the lunch hour without having to get in the car to seek it out.

Some community associations, like Durbin Crossing in St. Johns, even host "food truck" nights, where a few mobile restaurants converge at the community center so everyone can gather to try new foods and get to know their neighbors. In Durbin Crossing's case, you can head to the South Durbin Amenity Center in St. Johnsfrom 5 to 8 p.m. every Friday.

In addition, food trucks are also popular fixtures at retail store grand openings and at some golf course events.

How to find Jacksonville's food trucks

Because food trucks are on wheels and move about from place to place, you're probably wondering how you can find the one you want to try. The best way is to consult an online portal like Food Truck Finder. This site catalogs which Jacksonville food truck will be where and at what time. Visiting the site simplifies the process since — at a glance — you can see where a bunch of food trucks will be for the day.

Once you've tried a few food trucks, it's best to "like" your favorite vendor's Facebook or Twitter page. You'll then be kept in the loop whenever your favorite food vendors are in the area.

In addition, Hemming Park in downtown often offers a selection of food trucks from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., especially throughout the summer. Check the park's Facebook page for the schedule. Roving vendors mean that each time you visit, you'll find something new and delicious to try. In an average week, you might be able to try food trucks like Monroe's Smokehouse Bar-B-Q, Latin Soul Grill Food and Cajun Cravins' 2 Go.

Finally, at Jax Food Truck Food Court, you'll find a collection of food trucks — usually four or five at a time. The court is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. What's unique is that there is some air-conditioned indoor seating, as well as outdoor tables and free Wi-Fi. The trucks that visit the court change daily.